Meteorology Review (Air Pressure, Clouds, Greenhouse Effect, Layers of the Atmosphere, Heat Transfer)

Cloud Type and Pictures

cirrus

cirrostratus

cirrocumulus

altostratus

altocumulus

stratus

nimbostratus

stratocumulus

cumulonimbus

cirrus

thin, wispy, white clouds made of ice crystals high in the sky

cirrostratus

“see through” white clouds that may cover the whole sky

cirrocumulus

rippling rows of white, fleecy clouds

altostratus

grayish white sheet of clouds that often makes the sky look watery (NO rain or snow)

altocumulus

rounded heaps of white or grayish clouds that look fleecy

stratus

thick, low, sheet-like clouds that cover the sky and go to the ground and are a sign of rainy weather

nimbostratus

sheets of gray, dark clouds that bring fast rain or snow

stratocumulus

gray layers of cottony clouds that may cover the whole sky

cumulonimbus

dark, towering clouds a.k.a. “thunderclouds”

meteor shows occur here

mesosphere

Air has mass.

It also has pressure and density.

Nitrogen

most abundant gas in the atmosphere

convection

only occurs in liquids and gases because there is space to allow for movement

bare feet on sand

conduction

sitting by a fire

radiation

warm air rising in the atmosphere

convection

conduction

heat is transferred from hot to cold

radiation

sitting on the beach under the sun

Greenhouse Effect

Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor contribute to the natural warming of Earth.

Conduction

does not work well in plasma

temperature

how layers of the atmosphere are classified

freezing point of water in Celsius

0 degrees Celsius

barometer

used to measure air pressure

stratosphere

layer of the atmosphere that contains an area that reflects some UV waves back into space

troposphere

layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs

exosphere

outer space

cumulus

large puffy white clouds in the sky, nice weather